Kallikrein release from the kidney: in vitro effects of AVP and DDAVP in three species.

Kallikrein released during superfusion of rat, monkey and human kidney cortical slices was mainly in the inactive form. Arginine vasopressin and the nonpressor synthetic analogue des-amino-D-arginine vasopressin increased the release of inactive kallikrein to a similar extent in all species. No detectable change in active kallikrein release occurred. These results suggest a role for the kallikrein-kinin system in the regulation of the hydro-osmotic effect of arginine vasopressin.